Thailand is at the top of many people’s bucket lists, and rightfully so. It’s an incredibly safe place to visit, food is inexpensive, and it’s an easy country to navigate even if you don’t speak Thai. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn a few words and phrases in Thai, especially greetings and certain questions.
While prepping for my trip to Thailand two years ago, I compiled a list of words and phrases I thought I should learn before visiting—and here is that list to share with you all. It’s a small, simple list, but it includes basic questions, numbers, and phrases that can help you greet people, barter in the street markets, and speak with taxi drivers.
~Note: I have not taken any Thai language classes—this is just a personal list I made after looking through various websites and videos about things to learn in Thai, and I thought it would be helpful to share this with others. I wrote the Thai translations in a way that makes sense for me as a native English speaker to replicate the pronunciations. I encourage you to also look up videos to hear how these words are pronounced.
Also, some things are said slightly different depending on your gender. The main difference is the ending particles of some phrases, which just adds politeness to the phrase. Usually, you’ll add “kah” at the end if you identify as female, and “khrap” if you identify as male. I’ve noted these differences as (F) for female version and (M) for male version.~
For more Thailand travel tips, read 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Thailand
Greetings/Basics
Hello — Sawadii kah (F), Sawadii khrap (M)
Goodbye (formal) — Laa gaawn
Goodbye (informal) — Bai
How are you? — Kuhn sabaaidii mai?
I’m fine — Sabaaidii
I’m not well — Mai sabaii
Happy — Mii-khwaam-suk
What is your name? — Kun chuu arai?
My name is … — Chan chuu [name] kah (F), Phom chuu [name] khrap (M)
What country are you from? — Maa-jaak bprateet arai?
Where are you from? — Khun maa-jaak thii-nai?
I come from America — Maa-jaak ameerigaa
I don’t understand — Mai kao jai
Speak slowly – Puut chaa chaa noi
Thank you — Khap kun kah (F), Khap kun khrap (M)
No problem — Mai Bpenrai
Excuse me/I’m sorry — Khot hort kah (F), Khot hort khrap (M)
Yes — Chai
No — Mai (this is very general, but there are other nuanced ways to say no)
Bangkok — Grung-thehhp-ma-ha-nah-khawn (usually this is shortened to “Grung-thehhp”)
Important Questions
Can you speak English? — Pood paasaa anggrit dai mai?
Where is the bathroom — Haahwng-nam yuu thii-nai
Do you use the meter? — Chai meter mai? (*Note: it’s important to ask this to taxi drivers in Thailand, because some won’t use the meter and will charge you more!)
6 Main Question Words
Who — Krai
What — Arai
When — Muarai
Where — Tiinai
Why — Tum mai
How — Yang ngai
Transit Phrases
Nearby — Glai glai
Go straight — Dtrong bpai
Go left — Leo saai
Go right — Leo kwaa
Stop — Yut
Go to the airport — Bpai sanam bin
Station — Sataanii
Bus stop — Bpaai rot mee
Bus — Rot mee
Train — rot-fai
Skytrain — Rodfai faa
Subway — Rodfai dtaaidin
Airplane — Kruang bin
Minibus — Rot dtuu
Car — Rot
Bicycle — Jakgrayaan
Motorcycle — Moodteesai
Boat — Rua
Numbers
The number system in Thai is relatively easy once you recognize the pattern. For example, the number 31 is essentially written out as “three-ten-one” or “saam-sip-et”, and 45 is “four-ten-five” or “sii-sip-haa”. Though, there are some exceptions to this, so just look out for those (such as the 20s). I’ve noted this in the chart below as well.
| 0 | Soon |
| 1 | Noong |
| 2 | Sawng |
| 3 | Saam |
| 4 | Sii |
| 5 | Haa |
| 6 | Hok |
| 7 | Jet |
| 8 | Bpaaet (think sheep sound) |
| 9 | Gao |
| 10 | Sip |
| 11 | Sip-et (ten-one) |
| 12 | Sip-saawng (ten-two) |
| 13 | Sip-saam (ten-three) |
| 14 | Sip-sii |
| 15 | Sip-haa |
| 16 | Sip-hok |
| 17 | Sip-jet |
| 18 | Sip-bpaaet |
| 19 | Sip-gao |
| 20 | Yii-sip (two-ten) |
| 21 | Yii-sip et (two-ten-one) |
| 30 | Saam-sip (three-ten) |
| 31 | Saam-sip et (three-ten-one) |
| 40 | Sii-sip (four-ten) |
| 50 | Haa-sip |
| 60 | Hok-sip |
| 70 | Jet-sip |
| 80 | Bpaaet-sip |
| 90 | Gao-sip |
| 100 | Noong-roy (one-hundred) |
Shopping
How much is it? — Raa-kha thao-rai kha
How much? — Thao-rai
Expensive — Phaeng
Very expensive — Paang mak
Can you reduce the price? — Lod noi dai mai
Reduce — daht thaawn
Cheap — Thuk
I want this one — Ao annii
Food
Not spicy — Mi phed
Is this spicy? — Ah-nii peht mai
White rice — Khaao khaao
Delicious — A-roi
If you’re worried about saying something incorrectly or sounding impolite, don’t be! People in Thailand will easily recognize you’re a foreigner no matter what, and they will be happy you are even trying to speak Thai, as many people don’t even bother learning. If anything, they’ll help you speak the language better.
For example, on my second day in Bangkok I was leaving a restaurant and my brain panicked about what to say, and I accidentally said “sawadii kah” (hello) instead of “khap kun kah” (thank you), and the staff politely corrected me. Yes, I looked like a silly foreigner, but I already looked like a foreigner and I probably gave them a good laugh. The point is: you’re trying. Trying is better than nothing!
Happy Lil’ Traveller 
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